Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-08

There was q tolerably fair attendance
of people at the prohibition convention
which met et the courthouse yesterday
afternoon. There were a few ladies
among the spectators, and half q dozen
colored men occupied rear seats. j. NJ.
BenbroOk, Esq, was selected as tempo
rery chairman, and w. II. himbr0ugh,
secretary.
A resolution was offered authorizing
the appointment Of a committee on per-
manent organization and to make out
working programme. Pending the retire
ment of the committee the audience lis
tened tC several addresses. Rev. j. Nor
gan Wells was called on, but refused at
the time 10 speak. Rev. J. 5. Gillespie
spoke with enthusiasm and was
frequently applauded. He said
it was a mOmentOus issue. He
had been talking and praying for prohini
ton for many q long year, and was be-
ginning 70 see tho dawn. The Queen Of
Madagascar had forbidden the sale OF
intoxicating liquors In her domiGiCns.
She had been visited by the dealers in
the traffic and as cd that they be REIN
bursed for their losses by having to cease
business. She responded by tt ling them
that whenever they reimbursed those
that had been wronged by patroniZ
ing the liquor shops, then she
would see that they were compensated
Il was q Just and righteous answer, and
the Queen was q leVel-headed woman
The cessation Of the business was the
point to be gained. He had no war
against the saloon men-it was their bust
ness that ne opposed. 1t would be to the
interest of the very men engaged in it To
have the sale of whisky prohibited.
Attorney J. C. Scott vas the next
speaker. He alluded TO the boys with
whom he started out in life, and the
drunkards' graves that some Of them have
since filed. He denied that prohibition was
Democratic. He advocated prohibi-
ton on prGCiple, ana bad rather starve
on principle than feast in immortality.
An old gentleman, a stranger, arose.
He said he was seventy-siX years old,
4 but wanted to express his sympathy for
the cause. A COlOred man got up and
said that whisky had been a great
enemy 10 his race and he would
do all in his power to get it out of the
country. Rev. Wells then made a brief
argument to show that prohibition and
Democracy Were not antagonistiC. He
had never scratched Democratic ticket
was meme the less PIOhibitionist.
Mr.. John S. Andrews followed in
speech of considerable length in which
the evils Of incompetence were strongly
portrayed. H wound up by eSse. ting
that prohibition would brinE prosperity
to the country, and induce immigration
Of the best classes. Captain Sam Evans
made the last and longest grafton. He
thought that r, form sh uld first begin !
with the individual. He favored Ostra-
Ching men VINO went INTO bar-rOOmS and /
men who sold liquors. The government /
should take the whole business OF |
making intOXiCsnts in its hands, |
and nOG low an ounce manufactured eX |
cept for chemical and medical purposes !
the speaker was severe on both the Dem |
ocratic and Republican parties, aud |
abused the legislators of the day roundly, !
which seemed TO meet with the unQuaIi- !
fed approval Of HIS auditors.
Rev. A. A. Allison had in the mean I
time been recommended SIS perma- |
nent chairman of the meeting BIZ |.
the committee, which at the close
of Captain Evans address brought |
in report on permanent county organi- |
zition, which was read and adopted by /
clauses, after which the convention was |
adjourned.
THE REPORT.
Resolved, "tnat We make this campaign |
as citizens of Texas, without reference to |
race, party politics, religious distinctions !
or temperance societies, as, such, leaving |
to all organizations, moral or religious, |
10 adopt their own methods of helping IN ,
this great conflict"
This Platform is Just as broad as Ru-
20
working in this campaign for or against |
any religious or political party. No ques-
tioa of Office or preferment is involved. |
We have not word to say for or against
the Democratic psrty, the Republican
party or the third party, Prohibitionists.
NJ one OF them is on trial Ia this canvass.
We mean To say, distinctly and en-
phaticslly, that We accept the place as
signed TO this canvass by the wisdom of
our state Legi,llture. We understand
that they des gGedlV ordered this election
to take place st & time when there would
be no other election, thus absolutely dis
socisting it from all candidacy for office
and leaving II To the people, as citizens, !
to determine as they deem best.
The constitution is for all the people,
snd this is to be voted on as 8 constitu-
ti9nal amendment, and not IS g party
question.
PLAN OF WORK.
Resolved, /. That county committee
be appointed bythis convention, consist
ing of one man from esch precinct in the
county, and that this man be authorized
to organic Prohibition eluos at once in
his precinct.
2 That q county executive committee (
Of seven be selected, who shall be resi-
lent in the county site, or accessible 20 (
t, to whom shall be committed the re-
,ponslbiIity and management of the I
county canvass.
3. That each Prohibition club in the
county report at lesst once & month,
through its president, TO the chairman of {
he county executive committee the mem 1
,ership of the club snd the state of the l
anvass in that precinct.
u Shat the county executive committee z